Kingston upon Thames

Kingston upon Thames' population expanded in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in religion, housing tenure and ethnicity.

The population passed 160,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Kingston upon Thames increased by 8.7%, from about 147,000 to 160,000.

The addition of just under 13,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Kingston upon Thames was home to, on average, 31 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Average age stable in Kingston upon Thames

Latest census data also show that the median age of Kingston upon Thames remained 35 years in the decade to 2011.

This area had a higher average age than London and remained somewhat younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of almost 3,400 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population over the age of 80 years decreased by about 200.

About 15% of people in Kingston upon Thames are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Kingston upon Thames by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Kingston upon Thames

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 28% said they had no religion. An increase from 19% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Kingston upon Thames.

The percentage increased by more than the average across London (from 16% to 21%), but at a slower rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Kingston upon Thames that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 95,000 in 2001 to just under 85,000 in 2011 (from 65% to 53%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just under 11,000 to just under 13,000 (from 7.4% to 7.9%).

Just under 9,500 people (3.9%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 5,800 in 2001 (5.9%).

The population without a religion in Kingston upon Thames increased by 7.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Kingston upon Thames by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Kingston upon Thames

The percentage of Kingston upon Thames residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 6.4% to 5.8% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 1.9%, while the percentage of Kingston upon Thames residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 92%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 5.8% in 2001 to 5.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across London

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Kingston upon Thames, but at a slower rate than in Reading (one of the most statistically similar areas to Kingston upon Thames based on ONS area classifications).

In Kingston upon Thames, the proportion of private renting increased from 16% in 2001 to 22% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in statistically similar Reading increased from 15% to 26%.

Across London, the share of privately rented homes increased from 15% to 25%.

The rate of social housing in Kingston upon Thames increased from 11% to 12%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 71% to 64%.

Private renting in Kingston upon Thames increased by 6.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Kingston upon Thames, London and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Kingston upon Thames

In 2011, 74% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. A decrease from 84% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Kingston upon Thames.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across London (from 71% to 60%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Kingston upon Thames from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 13,000 in 2001 to just over 26,000 in 2011 (from 9.2% to 16%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 3,400 to about 6,300 (from 2.3% to 3.9%).

Just under 4,400 people (2.5%) said they were from the Other ethnic groups (Arab or any other ethnic group), up from just over 3,700 in 2001 (2.8%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Kingston upon Thames decreased by 10 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Kingston upon Thames by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer homes without children

The percentage of households without children fell here at a faster rate than in statistically similar Reading.

In Kingston upon Thames, the proportion of households without children decreased from 63% in 2001 to 60% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in statistically similar Reading decreased from 64% to 62%.

Across London, the share of households without children decreased from 62% to 60%.

The proportion of households with children in Kingston upon Thames increased from 28% to 31%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.1% to 9.2%.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across London

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people living alone

The percentage of one-person households fell in Kingston upon Thames at a faster rate than in Epsom and Ewell (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Kingston upon Thames).

In Kingston upon Thames, the proportion of one-person households decreased from 32% in 2001 to 29% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Epsom and Ewell decreased from 27% to 26%.

Across London, the share of one-person households decreased from 35% to 32%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Kingston upon Thames increased from 9.0% to 9.5%, while the percentage of households with a married couple increased from 35% to 36%.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across London

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Kingston upon Thames residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.3% to 3.6% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (86%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 74% in 2001. The percentage of Kingston upon Thames residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20% to 10%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 8.3% in 2001 to 5.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Kingston upon Thames decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Kingston upon Thames, London and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More students

The percentage of Kingston upon Thames residents that were studying increased from 4.1% to 5.3% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (53%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 55% in 2001. The percentage of Kingston upon Thames residents that were unemployed increased from 2.5% to 3.2%.

The proportion of students increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 3.0% in 2001 to 4.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students in Kingston upon Thames increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Kingston upon Thames, London and England that said they were in education, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Kingston upon Thames working less than 16 hours increased from 2.3% to 3.5% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over one in nine (11%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 13% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 2.0% in 2001 to 3.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Kingston upon Thames increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Kingston upon Thames, London and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Kingston upon Thames residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.2% to 1.5% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.7%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 1.7% in 2001 to 1.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Kingston upon Thames remained close to 1.5%

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Kingston upon Thames by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Relationships in Kingston upon Thames

The percentage of married people changed very little in Kingston upon Thames, while the proportion fell across England.

In Kingston upon Thames, the proportion of married people stayed close to 46% between the last two censuses. During the same period, the proportion across England decreased from 51% to 47%.

Across London, the share of married people decreased from 42% to 40%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in Kingston upon Thames increased from 38% to 39%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 9.0% to 9.1%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

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